US2188897A

US2188897A - Desk construction

Info

Publication number: US2188897A
Application number: US114653A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irving B Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-12-07
Filing date: 1936-12-07
Publication date: 1940-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1957-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1940.

I. B. HALL DESK CONSTRUCTION lF'iled Deo. 7. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1940. l, B, HALL 2,188,897

DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7, 193s s sheets-Sheet 2 frwg Hz ZZ MaX/Z655# jy' I Feb. 6, 1940. l. B. HALL DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. 7, 19:56'

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented 6, 1940` .PATNT SOFFCE 'Desir CONSTRUCTION Irvingenali Chicago, 111.*v v o o Appiieassnnfclber' 7, 1936, serial` No. 114,653

' y 13elaims.- (Cieli-21)* Y invention relates-to that 'class'offdevices generally known as Writing` desks or the nlilze,`

and more-.particularlytoa devioefor installation and useon automobiles, aeroplanes, railway cars, busses vand other vehicles; i

The'invention has as Aan object, the production i of -a device of the kind'described that is' simple, compact, inexpensive, ldurable yand particularly convenient for ,the vpurpose intended.

The y invention has vamong its j further obj ects the production of a folding deskfthat ;is.to.-say,

- itmay be moved to operativepositionnorgfolded backy out of the Way` in proof:container. v`It has particularly as anjobject a device of the kind described, AWhich is readilyv available yfor `4a V4substantially A,i ,dustuse,y land when in operative position is rigidly `and effectively supportedr Without .the vuse of la dependingleg or legs, Whichin congested-.orf l limited space, such vas theiront ofvv anY automobile at the dash, would bein-the'way and'beunf` comfortable to the -occupantsoi the seat.; l Fernse lin automobilesf,"thepresent:invention isgparticularlyv desirabley -for the convenience oi salesmen and others` Who nd'thejuse ofiatable ory desk particularly desirable .and convenient -in making outreports or forl other correspondence.

The present invention, may alsotbeusedaas a serving table if and when desiredv Practical embodiments of .the present invention are shown for illustrativepurposes' inthe `atx-- coinpa-nying drawings in Which:v v

Fig. lj is anelevationalv View -of f my Yimproved desk. construction shown 1in-operative position,

and illustrating the manner' v'of,lsupporting-the.

therefor as viewed substantially on thelinei--B of Fig. 2,k except that the deskunit is'shown in inoperative position within its container; Fig.` 4 is a transverse sectionalelevational vievvtalren substantially as indicated by theline '1e-4t of Figs; l I n 5 is fragmentary sectional elevational `vieivof adjacent' portions of the desk member..

and its container :when theI desk .member is'in operative position;` l

Fig.- 6 is a,fragmentarybottomplan view of a desk supporting member or containerlillustrat-- ing a slightly modiiied construction of ,certain of the deskv supporting elements; I Fig. '7 isalongitudinal sectional view-of the structure-illustrated inFig. 6 and taken-substantially'as'lindicatedby-the line l'l--T thereof; ki.-

v Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse'sectio-nal elevational vievvof a por-tion of the structurel illustrated in fFig. 'l and taken substantiallyv as indicated bythe line 8- -8 thereof and Fig'.y 9 is: a.A fragmentary. sectional elevational. v10.

view of aportion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7 showingcertain of the elements embodied therein inslightly changed position.

, Referringparticularly to Figs.4 1 to 5, inclusive,

the illustrative embodiment of the yinvention shown there-in` comprises acontainer, indicated as aI Wh'ole by the numeral Il', and of relatively shallow box-like structure havingan open end portici/1.12 adjacent which and,.p referably, at opposite sides thereof, are provided suitable means, 20'

indicated as ya whole by the numeral I3,for..sup,

porting the open orrear end portion of the coni tainer III on thev dash or instrument panel I4`of.

a motor vehicle.- v

, Each. of the securing means I3 vare showm4 in 25j the'present instance, asI comprising a hook-likeA membergI- pivotally connected adjacent its lower end `tothefcontain'er'II by 'means of abolt I6 engaginga sloti I1 formed inabracket I8 secured to the "side of the container I'I, the bolt and` slot 3,0 y,

connection,v Itf-I'l` permitting of relative' bodily and pivotal adjustmentof Ythemem'loer I5. with, p

e respect tothe container.

. The member vI 5, in the. present .instanceyis provided vvitvh [a,hook-like"supporting.portion I9 35Y adapted to engage theupper surface of a iiange 2.! formedorithev dashorpanel -I-I and adapted tobe secured v.to the flange 2`II byy meansjof av clamping screw22 mounted on anear 23 formed on the -vmember I5 in amannery to engageA the 4,0r

underside of Ithe flange 2 Las `clearly;"il1ustrated in Fig. 1,-.thereby providing -eflicient means for securing-the open or rear endportionIof the container yII to the ,dashor panel I4l of the auto- "mobile Y For rigidly supporting and. retaining the op-k posite or forward end portion of ,thecontainer l I.I. rigidlywithrespect to portions' of thevehicle, n I .Y apair of spacing members 24 areprovided adjacent the 'respective front corners of thecon- 50 tainer I Leach of the spacers 24 havinga slot 25 formed therein adapted to receive a bolt 26 ina manner to permit relativemovement of the 'spacer 24 and the containerl I Ito position the spacersw24 against the bulkfhead or cowl,.indicated at 2'I, of 55 an automobile, and in a manner to suitably position the forward end of the container II with respect thereto;l

For urgingv the spacers 24 snugly against th k cowl 21 in a manner to secure the forward end` of the container in relatively xed position with respect to adjacent portions of the vehicle, a supporting member, indicated as a whole by the numeral 28, is provided, and shown, in the present instance, as of substantially V-shape, pivotally mounted at 29:on'.the underside of the container I I. The member 23, in the present instance, cornprises a pair'of telescoping leg portions 3| by",

which the'length of the supporting member. 28 may be varied, the lower end of the memberv 3| being provided with a screw-threaded sleeve por'- tion 32 adapted to receivea threaded bolt 33 having a head portion adapted to be -positioned in a recess or socket 34 formed, preferably, in a base member or wear-piece 35 shown,'in 'the present instance, as .mounted on the voor board 36 of the vehicle.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that, by such an` arrangement," after suitably positioning the spacers 24 in a manner to arrange the forward end vof the container II at the angle desired with respect to vthe bulk-head unit, vindicated as va whole by thenumeral 31,

having an open side Vportion 38 adapted to receive ya plurality of'drawers or receptacles 39 for con-l taining papers'writing material, or other sup-vv plies and having handle recesses Mlfor conveniently withdrawing the drawersA from'` thev desk unit iffand when desired.l The desk unit31 is adapted to be positioned in the container II when in inoperative position. and to be withdrawn therefrom to operative position outside the container as illustrated in Fig.v l, the desk unit being provided with a plate or cover member 14| adjacent its rear end portion for'reinforcing the .Y `desk unit and concealing portions of the operat-k ing mechanism.

For supporting the deskr unitl 31 in operative position, the container I I'is provided with a `strut 42 of substantially V-shaped form. havingthe forward end of its leg portions pivotally related to the forward end portion of the container II,

asindicated at 43, the rearward end of the strut 42 being pivotally connected, as indicated, at 44,

to a link 45 pivotally mounted intermediate its'A ends, as indicated at 45, to a member v41 posi# tionedin an' elongated aperture 48 formedin the bottom portion of the receptacle II4 and slidablyV mounted'therein, the strut 42 and link 4 5 being adapted to be folded into substantially vparallel relation with respect t'o the container. I I,1as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, when vthe desky'unit 3.1 ifs positionedin the container II, or in inoperative position. 'For actuating or' moving thestrut 42and link 45, 'out of parallel relation with the container I I` and into operative position when the desk unit 31v is' withdrawnl from the container rI I, the upper` 'gend portion 49 of the' link 45 is adapted to extend into the container II as' shown in Figs. 3- and 5 in a manner to be engaged .by an actuating bail 5I mounted on the desk unit 31 atthe forward endthereof and extending downwardly between4 the sliding supports or runners 52 ofthe desk -unit 31 and below the planeof the bottom portion ofv the desk unit in a manner to engage vthe upper end portion 49 of the link 45 as shown in lig..5,A thereby moving the member 41 longitudinally of 10` the aperture 48` and swingingthe outer, lower or free end of the link 451 about .its pivotal connec` tion 4,6 in a manner to position the strut `4 2 and l link 45 in they position vshown Fig; 1,tl'1e end portion 449 of the link serving lalso to limit the lmovement of the desk unit 31 with respect. to the f container I I (and prevent its complete withdrawal therefrom.

Mounted on thedesk unit 31 and pivotally con-f,

nectedthereto adjacent its rear end portion vin one or another ofseveral apertures 53 formedin brackets 54 is a rbrace member 55 of sub'stan. tially V'shape havingy a plate 56`-`secured to its for, l

forward end, the plate 56 being provided with` a recess 51adapted to engage the 1ink45 and having an enlarged portion 58r (Fig. 2)`,adapted .toy

cooperate with a relatively wide portionl 59 ad-K jacent the lower end ofthe link 45 in a manner; f, y

to secure the brace member against accidental displacement with respect to the link;

Forconveniently actuating the brace member 55 from the rear end portion of the desk unit'31' in va manner to position the brace. member in operative position `with respect to the link 4 5,va

manuallyI operated oscillating rod 6I is mounted in brackets 62 secured r`to` the lower-side of tlie desk unit 31 and'provided adjacent one o f its l laterally extending handle portion 63, and at its opposite end with an elongated connector, loop or crank portion adapted to receive one of the leg portions of the brace lmember 55 in a manner to raise and lower thej'forward end'of `the brace member when the rodfB'Iis oscillated, thereby en abling the operator to' conveniently position thev recess 51 ofk the plate 56 in operative position with respect to the link 45. v

The operation of the device as abovedescribed u is substantially as follows:

Assuming that the `desk unit 31 is positioned within'the container-II, -by drawing outwardly on the handle portion sa, the deskzunit maybe. f

withdrawn from the container to 4theV position illustrated in Fig. l, the withdrawal of the desk I unit 31 causing the lactuating bail 5I mounted thereon to engage the upper end portion 450i the link 45 in a manner to movel the member 41 longitudinally of the aperture, 4B and to swing` y ends, and rearwardly of `the, desk unit, witha s the arm 45, about its'pivoti'46 to position the pivotal connection 44 of the arm 45 and`strut`42 as shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter, by rotating the handle 63 in a manner to o'scillate v the rod'l,

thebrace member 55 through its connection with the loop 64j may be s forced downwardly in` a manner to position the lower end' portion of thel link'45 within the recess y51 'formedin theplate Y 56 `secured to the brace' member, thereby pro-"1 viding a locking connectionbetweenthe brace member 55, link 45, and strut. 42vin amannerto securely support the outer, rearward .or free i end portion of the deskunit 31 as illustrated inv Fig. 1.

Thereafter, when it is desired to; again positionv A thefdesk unit within the container, it is necessary only to disconnect the lower end portionof the link 45 from the recess'51 formed in the plate; 56;:and by rotating thehandle 63 fin the op'- posite direction to'position the brace vmember 55 against the bottom of the desk member,` after which the. desk' member may be moved into the container, andin sodoing, the membervel'l will be rmoved longitudinally of the elongated aper-l ture 48 in the opposite direction and thelink 45 into substantiallyparallel relation with respect to the bottom of the container as illustrated in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, it will be lapparent that the present invention provides a' Vnovel construction and l'arrangement' for conveniently supporting the container l l with re-:Eer-

ence to the vehicle body and for readily withdrawing `the desk unit 3'! to operative position and conveniently and efliciently supporting th desk unit'with respect to the container li.

Referring 'to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, wherein a slightlymodiiied arrangement of supporting elements is shown, a bail-like strut 152eA is pivotally connected adjacent its respective forward end portions, indicated at 43a, to crankarms (one crank arm being shown) formed at opposite ends of a rook shaft 66 rotatably mounted in brackets 61 secured to the underside of the container Ila,y the central portion of the rock shaft 66 *being provided `with a laterally extending finger 68. lThe rear end portion of the strut 42o is pivotally connected to a link 25a in substantially the same manner and for a like purpose as pointed out with reference to the structure illustratedin Figs.'1, 2, 3, and 5.

In the structure-illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, however, the link 45a is pivotally mounted on an elongated substantially U-shaped member 593l having its rear end portion slidably mounted in an elongated aperture 63a, formed in the bottom portion of the container Ha and its opposite or forward end portion slidably mounted in a yoke or bracket 1I secured to the bottom of thecontainer," the sides of the member 69 being provided with elongated slots 12 to permit the passage of the rock'shaft 66 therethrough ina manner to position the nger 68 within and between the sides of the sliding member 69.

Formed in the bottom portion of the U-shap'ed member 69 is 'an elongated aperture 'H3 `adapted to be engaged by the finger 68 when the aperture is, brought into register therewith by the movement of the member 69 longitudinally of the ccntainer, as illustrated in Fig. A9, ina manner to rock the shaft 66 to position the pivotal connection 43a of the strut 42a and arm 55 on opposite sides of the rock shaft S6, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7, thereby positioningther pivotal connection Ma of the link 45d and strut 42a further to the lrear of the open end portion 12a of the container Hav than is possible in the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, and providing a structure whereby the brace member 55 of the desk unit 3'! may be more readily adjusted to a horizontal writing position when the relative angle of the containen! la. is changed by varying conditions of installation of the container l lav with relation to the dash and cowl of an automobile7 indicated at' it and "fill (Fig. 1), and may be conveniently actuated without interference withthe open end portion of the container, and without raising the extreme rear end portion of the desk unit in positioning the brace member' insubstantially parallel relation to the desk unit for insertiontherewith into the container when the-desk unit is .moved to inoperativeposition.

For urging thev finger 6s into the apertuvrels to insure rocking of theshaft 66v in the Vproper direction when the yU-shaped member l69 is moved in either a rearwardly or forwardly direc- The operation of the structure illustrated in 2 Figs. `6 to 9, inclusive, is substantially like that described with reference to the structure illusvtrated in Figs. 1 to 5,' except that inthe structure shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, thelink 45a isr pivotally connected to an elongated substantially U-shaped member 69 slidably mounted in the elongated aperture 48a adjacent'one of its ends and in a yoke or bracket 'Ilv at'its opposite end,` while the strut 42o instead of being pivotally connected directly to the.,container lla is connected to crank arms 55 formedat oppositeends of the rock shaft, andthe rock shaft isprovided with a linger 58 positioned within the U- shaped member o9 having an aperture 13 Iioncne'ol therein. In moving the desk unit 31a outwardlyl from within the container Ha, shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the bail 5ta when brought into engagement with the end kportion 49a of thelink 45a'wl1 cause the elongated U-shaped member' to be moved longitudinally until the aperture 13 formed therein is brought into position `beneath .the finger 68, whereupon the flat spring 14 will force the iingeridownwardly into the recess 13 to` be engaged by the material at one end thereof,

and continuedmovement of the U-shaped member 69 will-move the ringer to the opposite side .of the pivotal center of the rock shaft 66,.thereby rocking the shaft` andpositoning the pivotal connection 43a. of the "cranks 65 with thestrut Maas shown in dottedlines in Fig. 7, thus changing the position of the pivotal connection dta and permitting the connection M'abetween the link 45a and'strutY 4201r to be positioned further rearwardly of thel open end portion of the .returned to thefull line position shown in Fig. 7.

It willbe observed from the foregoing descripy45' container I ia than is possible in the structure tion that thelpresent invention provides a novel construction and arrangement whereby the `pivotal connection of thek strut Maand link 45a maybe positioned a substantial distance rearwardly ofthe open end portion of the container and the pivotal mounting of the link for the purposespecied, and that the invention also provides a novel desk construction and arrangement lwhereby the ,desk unit .may ybe conveniently `stored in an'out-of-the-way position in an automobile or` other vehicle. and wherein the desk unit may be conveniently and readily withdrawn and supported for use as a work table or the like.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to' the precise construction and arrangement shown and describedas the same may be variously modified. .Moreoven'all thefeatures ofthe invention `rre/:ednotbe used vconjointly as the same may be 'used to advantage in-Vvariously` diiferent combinations and subcombinations.v

What I claim vasnew and desire to secure by Letters' Patent is:

1. A desk of the kind described for automobiles or the like comprising, incombination, 'a work table member having an article supporting top, a container for said member, and means for securing said container in a vehicle forwardly of' the dash thereof, means for operatively connecting the container `and member at one end. of the member, and foldable means carried by the container and opposite end portion of the table member, respectively forv supporting the opposite free end of the table member.

2. A desk for automobiles or the like comprising ai container, means for securing said container to vthe dash and under the cowl of an automobile, a work table member slidably arranged in said container'and movable outwardly therefrom, means for limiting the outward movement of said member, and means for supporting-the free end of said member when the same is withdrawn from the container, said last mentionedineansy comprising alink and brace member mounted on the container and'table member, respectively, said link being automatically extended to be engaged by the brace member for supporting the table member when the latter is withldrawn, said link being foldable when the table member is'returned to within the container.

3.,A desk for automobiles comprising a container-open at one end and provided with means at said end for securing the same to an automobile dash, meansv arranged at the opposite endA of the container for engagingv the automobile under the cowl and securing the forward end of the container in place, a work table member movable into and out of said container at the open end thereof, said member having a top for supporting articles thereon, means for normally limiting the withdrawal of the table member from the container, and means for supporting the outer end of said member when the same is moved to its outermost position, said last mentioned means comprising' a strut secured to the front end of the container, a link secured to therear end of the container and connected to said strut, and a brace member extending from a point adjacent the outer end of said table member into yengagement with said link and detachably secured thereto.

4. A desk for automobiles comprising a con-` tainer having an open end, clamping means adjacent said end for securing the container to an automobile dash, adjustable means adjacent the opposite end of said container and engageable withportions of the automobile under the cowl for securing the container rigidly thereto, a desk unit slidably mounted in said' container and 1 adapted to be drawn from the open end thereof, a strut pivotally related to said container adjacent 'the forward end thereof, a link pivotally related to the container adjacent said open end and pivotally connected to said strut, and a brace member pivotally mounted on said desk unit and engageable with said link for supporting the desk unit inoperative position.

5. A desk forautomobiles comprising a container having'an open end, clamping means adjustably mounted on the container adjacent opposite sides o f Vsaid lend* for securing the container to an automobile dash, adjustable means adjacent the opposite'end-of said container and engageable with portions of the automobile under the cowl for securing the container rigidl'ythereto, a desk unit slidably mounted in said 'container and adapted to be drawn from the openv end thereof, a strut pivotally related to said container adjacent the forward end thereof, a link pivotally saidwopen end and pivotally connected to said strut, and a brace member pivotally mounted on said desk unit adjacent the rear end thereof and detachably connected to the lower end of said link for supporting the desk unit in operativeA position.

6. A desk for automobiles comprising va container having an open end, clamping means adjay cent opposite sidesfof said end for securing the container to an automobile dash, adjustable; means adjacent the opposite end of said conmobile under the cowl for securing the vcontainer rigidly thereto, a desk unit slidably mountediny said container and adapted to be drawn-from the open end thereof, a strut pivotally related to said container adjacent the forwardfend thereofa link pivotally and slidably related to the container adjacent said open end and pivotally foldable into substantially parallel relationv with respect to said container, and a brace member pivotally mounted on said desk unit adjacent the rear end thereof and detachably connected tainer andengageable with portions of the autoto said link for supporting the desk unit in operative position, land foldable into substantially` said container to be positioned therein when in inoperative position, and adapted to be drawnv from the open end` thereof to operative position, a strut pivotally related to said container adjacent the forward end thereof, `a link pivotally related to a member slidably mounted on said container, said link and strut being pivotally connected and foldable into substantially parallel relation with respect to said container when said.

unit is in inoperative position, means on said unit and operatively related to said slidable member for moving the pivotal connection of said link relatively to said container and'for moving the link andv strut out of parallel relation to the container, and a brace member pivotally supporting the desk unit in operative position,

mounted on said desk unit adjacent the rear end thereof and detachably connected to said link forv and foldable into substantially parallel relation with respect to said desk unit for insertionv into said container when the desk unit is moved to inoperative position. f y

8. A desk for automobiles comprising a container having an open end, clamping meansA adcontainer to an automobile dash, adjustable means adjacent the opposite end ofA said container and 'engageable with portions of the automobile under the cowl for securing the container rigidly thereto, a desk unit slidably mounted in said container to be positioned therein when in inoperative position, and adapted to `be drawn jacent opposite sides of said end for securing the f ,5 y and slidably related to the container adjacent y "25. connected to said strut, said link and Vstrut being@ from the open end thereof to operative position,

a strut pivotally related to said container adjacent the forward end thereof, a member slidably mounted on said container, a link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onsaid member,

said link and strut being pivotally connected at their adjacent ends and foldable into substantially parallel relation withy respect to said container when said unit is in inoperative position,

means on said desk unit engageable with a portion of said link for moving said member and the pivotal. connection of the link relatively to said container and for moving the link and strut out of parallel relation tothe container when` the desk unit is in operative position, and a brace member pivotally mounted on said unit adjacent the rear end thereof and detachably connected to the lower end of said link for supporting the desk unit in said operative position,

and foldable into substantiallyl parallel relation with respect to said desk unit for insertion thereopposite end of said container and engageable with portions of the yautomobile under the co-wl for securing the container rigidly thereto, a desk unit slidably mounted in said container to be positioned therein when in inoperative position, and adapted to be drawn from the open end thereof to operative position, a strut pivotally re- ,y y lated to said containerfad'jacent the forward end thereof, a member slidably mounted on said container, a link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said member, said link and strut being pivotally connected at theiradjacent. ends and foldable into substantially parallel relation with respect to said container when said unit is in inoperative position, means on said desk' unit engageable with the opposite end of said link for moving said member and the pivotal connection of the link relatively to said container and for moving the link and strut outA of parallel relation to the container when'the deskv unit is in operative position, a brace member pivotally and adjustably mounted on saidunit adjacent the rear end thereof and detachablyrconnected tov the lower end of said link for supporting the desk unit in said operative position, and foldable into substantially parallel relation with respect to said desk unit for insertion therewith into said container when the desk unit is moved to inoperative position, and manually operated means for moving said brace member into operative position with respect to said link.

10. A desk for automobiles comprising a `container having an open end, securing means onr said container engageable with portions of an automobile under the cowl thereof for securing the container rigidly thereto, a desk unit slidably -mounted in said container and adapted to be drawn from the open end thereof, a strut pivotally related to said container adjacent the forward end thereof, a link pivotally related intermediate its ends to the container adjacent said open end and connected at one of its end portions to said strut, means onL said desk unit engageable with the 'opposite end portion of saidv link for moving the link about its pivot into operative position and for limiting the movement of the desk unit with respecttosaid container, and a brace member pivotally mounted on said desk unit and engageable with the rst mentioned end portion of said link ior supporting the desk unit in operative position. f

11. A desk for automobiles comprising a container having an open end, securing means on said container engageable with portions of an automobile under thev cowl thereof for securing the container rigidly thereto, a desk unit slidably mounted in said container to be positioned therein when in inoperative position, and adapted to' be drawn from the open end thereof to operative position, a rock shaftA rotatablymounted on the container and having crank arms adjacent its opposite ends and a laterally extending iinger intermediate its ends, a bail-like strut having its opposite end portions pivotally connected to the free ends of said crank arms, an elongated' member slidably mounted on said container,` said slidable member having an aperture formed therein adjacent one of its-ends adapted to receive said laterally extending ringer when brought into register therewith for rocking said shaft when the said member is moved in veither directions with respect to the container, resilient means on said container at opposite sides of said rock shaft for urging said finger into said aperture, a link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said slidable member adjacent the opposite end thereof, saidlink being pivotally connected at one of its end portions to saidstrut adjacent the central portion thereofand foldable with the strut into substantially parallel relation with respect to said container when said unit `is in inoperative position, means on said desk unit engageable with the opposite end portion of said link for moving said slidable member and rotating said rock shaft and cranks, and for moving the link and strut out of parallel relation with-respect to the container when the desk unit is moved to operative position, and a brace member pivotally mounted on said unit adjacent the rear end thereof and detachably connectable to the lower end of said link for supporting the desk unit in said voperative position, said brace member being foldable into substantially parallel relation with respect to said desk unit for insertio-n therewith into said container when the desk unit is moved to inoperative position. I

12. A desk for automobiles comprising a container, clamping means mounted on an adjustable pivot adjacent one end of said container for securing the container to an automobile dash, adjustable means adjacent the opposite end of said container engageable, respectively, with the cowl and oor of the automobile for securing the container rigidly thereto, and a desk unitmounted in said container and adapted to be drawn from one end thereof. v.

13. A desk for automobiles comprising a container, a pair vof clamping members mounted on Vadjustable pivots adjacent one end of said container for securing the container to an automobile dash, means adjacent the opposite en'd of said container for securing the container rigidly to the yautomobile said means comprising a pair of spacers adjustably mounted adjacent said opposite end of the container and engageable with the cowl of the automobile, a supporting member pivotally mounted adjacent said opposite v'end portion of the'container and having adjustable means engageable with the floor ofthe automobile for urging said spacers snugly against said cowl, *and a desk unit mounted in saidcontainer and adapted to ybe .drawn from one end thereof.

IRVNG B-